Sharapova met Bouchard in Miami in March and comfortably beat her, allowing the teenager just two games in the entire match. PHOTO: AFP
Sharapova, the defending champion and world number two, and 19-year-old Bouchard, last year’s junior Wimbledon winner, are both on Nike’s books with the Canadian youngster even wearing on-court clothing designed by the Russian.
However, Sharapova intends to put the world number 77, who won her maiden Grand Slam match on Monday, firmly in her place when they meet for the second time this year.
“She’s still a competitor,” said the champion. “I met her a few times. We actually did a shoot back in Melbourne together. She seems a very nice girl and obviously has a great game and is one to watch.
“But when you’re at that point in your career, every month is a learning experience for someone her age and at that level.
“You have to respect anyone that’s across the net from you. There is a reason why they’re there, whether they have had a good week or a bad week or they’re not having a good month or they’re having a great month.
“It just doesn’t matter, because you’re going to be facing them and your job is to try to beat them.”
Sharapova wasted no time in reaching the second round on Monday, firing 25 winners and surrendering just eight points on serve to beat Taiwan’s Hsieh Su-Wei, 6-2, 6-1.
Bouchard, meanwhile, swept past former Wimbledon semi-finalist Tsvetana Pironkova of Bulgaria 6-1, 7-6 (7/2) in her opener.
The teenager, who made the semi-finals on clay in Strasbourg last week, said she was looking forward to the match.
“I hope it’s going to be on the Chatrier Court,” said the teenager. “It’s very exciting. I have worked all my life just for that, so I’ll have fun and do my best.”
Sharapova completed a career Grand Slam when she won in Paris 12 months ago and intends to go through the same routine each day in the French capital — walks in the park in the morning, practice sessions as well as lengthy Skype conversations with her father back in Florida.
“I went to the park and I was just sitting there and remembering myself sitting in the same position last year,” she said.
“I was thinking of all the things you have in your life, and at the end of the day I’m still doing the same thing. And I love it just as much, which puts a big smile on my face.”
42-year-old Date-Krumm bows out
World number 83 Date-Krumm, who played her first Roland Garros in 1989, lost 6-0, 6-2 to Australian ninth seed Samantha Stosur, the 2010 runner-up and former US Open winner.
The 42-year-old Japanese became the third oldest player to compete in women’s singles in the tournament — Martina Navratilova holding the record at 47 and 232 days from her 2004 showing.
Fully 57 players in this year’s women’s singles draw were not even born when Date-Krumm made her Roland Garros debut.
“Stosur is so strong and she’s a specialist on clay,” said Date-Krumm. “Today she didn’t make mistakes because I couldn’t put her under pressure.”
Grigor Dimitrov through
In the men’s event, highly-rated youngster Grigor Dimitrov reached the second round when Colombian opponent Alejandro Falla retired with the score at 6-4, 1-0 in the Bulgarian favour.
The 22-year-old Dimitrov, the boyfriend of Maria Sharapova, could face world number one Novak Djokovic in the third round.
“I am happy that I finished the match. It’s never easy to play the first round in a Grand Slam especially with the weather the way that it was,” said Dimitrov, who is seeded at a major for the first time.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 29th, 2013.
COMMENTS
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ